GTSOU head warns of risks associated with compressor stations enemy control, gas transit problems

The invasion of Russian invaders at the compressor stations of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) in Luhansk and Kharkiv regions portends stoppages, which will have negative consequences primarily for the transit of Russian gas to Europe, GTSOU head Serhiy Makogon has said.

"Due to the stoppage of the stations, transit will suffer more. In particular, the Sokhranivka entry point passes through Novopskov, which is about one third of the transit," he said during the airing of the UArazom nationwide telethon on Thursday.

"We demand that the Russian occupation troops vacate our facilities, and then we can carry out the work of transporting gas for Ukrainian and European consumers. Now there are risks that we will react accordingly, because we cannot manage the system when it is interfered with strangers," Makogon said.

According to him, Ukraine has already informed its European partners about the seizure of stations and the risks it carries.

Makogon also added that so far there is no information about the intentions of the invaders to destroy the stations, but the presence of armed people on them, who also have no understanding at all about how our system works technologically, creates significant risks for the manageability of the gas transit system (GTS).

"While they say they want to take these objects under protection, they also try to attend our meetings, ask questions about the objects. We have no information that they want to destroy them. But we must understand that our people are under very great pressure, including psychological pressure," he said.

At the same time, he clarified that he does not yet feel any attempts by the Russian military to penetrate other stations located on the border with the Russian Federation.

“We have two more compressor stations located near the Russian border. These are Lubny and Romny, the entry point for gas from the Russian Federation's Sudzha. These stations are located in Russia-occupied areas," he added.

As reported, on the afternoon of March 10, GTSOU said Russian military and armed groups of the so-called Luhansk People's Republic on the territory of the compressor stations in Novopskov (Luhansk region) and Kupiansk (Kharkiv region), and threatened to intervene in the operation of the GTS facilities.